--- title: Maryland Resident Transforms Backyard into Pollinator-Friendly Meadow canonical: https://marylandfeed.com/maryland-resident-transforms-backyard-into-pollinator-friendly-meadow/ published: '2026-10-19T14:21:23-04:00' updated: '2026-10-19T14:21:23-04:00' author: MarylandFeed Staff section: Outdoors tags: - DNR - Outdoors - Parks - Wildlife - Chesapeake Bay source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources source_url: https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2026/10/19/wild-acres-in-action-backyard-garden-success/ publisher: MarylandFeed attribution: Copyright MarylandFeed. Quote with credit to MarylandFeed and a link to the canonical URL above. --- # Maryland Resident Transforms Backyard into Pollinator-Friendly Meadow On October 19, 2026, Ryan Elmore of Church Hill in Queen Anne’s County reported the success of his garden transformation. He mixed food crops like lima beans and watermelon with native species such as black-eyed Susan and fall phlox, resulting in a thriving habitat for wildlife. Elmore noted a significant increase in local wildlife, stating, “It really was mind blowing the amount of birds, native bees, and all manner of butterflies and moths I see everyday out back now!” --- ### Press Release: Maryland Department of Natural Resources *Published October 19, 2026. Reproduced in full from the [Maryland Department of Natural Resources](https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2026/10/19/wild-acres-in-action-backyard-garden-success/).* #### Wild Acres In Action: Backyard Garden Success! Native phlox and rudbeckia This summer, a resident reached out to us about the success he’s had in his garden. Ryan Elmore of Church Hill in Queen Anne’s County set out to turn his monoculture, grass-filled backyard into a healthy meadow. We are so impressed with his quick results! Ryan mixed practical food crop plants like lima beans and watermelon with native pollinator-friendly species like black-eyed Susan (*Rudbeckia hirta*), fall phlox (*Phlox paniculata*), coneflowers (family Asteraceae), and evening primrose. Ryan reports he’s seen “a huge population of butterflies, moths, grasshoppers, mantids, birds and rabbits! It really was mind blowing the amount of birds, native bees, and all manner of butterflies and moths I see everyday out back now!” Congratulations to Ryan for taking the first steps in creating great wildlife habitat, and thanks so much for sharing! Love what you see here and want to get started with your own project? Check out our article on [how to get started with native plants](https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/habitat/habichat-winter-2024-planting-native-101.aspx)! Remember to stay skeptical of “meadow mix” seed packets, they often include species that are not native to our immediate region. Opt instead for individual, verified, Maryland native species whenever possible. For more inspiration, peruse our other Wild Acres in Action articles in the [HabiChat archives](https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/habitat/Habichat_Articles_by_Topic.aspx). Evening primrose Don’t forget to certify your garden; signs that explain why you’ve planted native species can go a long way, helping educate the public about the importance of biodiversity. Check out our list of free resources at the bottom of the [Wild Acres page](https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/pages/habitat/wildacres.aspx). Do you want your garden to be featured in an upcoming issue of HabiChat? We love to hear from you! Email sarah.witcher1@maryland.gov. *All photos by Ryan Elmore* ### Related News - [Independent Investigations Division Investigating Officer-Involved Shooting in the City of Baltimore](https://marylandfeed.com/independent-investigations-division-investigating-officer-involved-shooting-in-the-city-of-baltimore/) - [State Police Investigating Fatal Pedestrian Crash in Anne Arundel County](https://marylandfeed.com/state-police-investigating-fatal-pedestrian-crash-in-anne-arundel-county/) - [MSDE Announces Historic Declines in Teacher Vacancy Rate](https://marylandfeed.com/msde-announces-historic-declines-in-teacher-vacancy-rate/) Source: [Maryland Department of Natural Resources](https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2026/10/19/wild-acres-in-action-backyard-garden-success/)